LIVING WITH WAR: New Neil Young Album- "Metal Folk Protest"

Neil Young's official website now confirms his new album's title as LIVING WITH WAR. Neil's letter appears as ticker at bottom of page. Neil calls it "Metal Folk Protest" like Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan.



Lyrics to "LIVING WITH WAR" are scrolled.

UPDATE from former president of Reprise Records, Howie Klein on DownWithTyranny! on hearing the album the first time:

"Ok; first: the album is beyond belief. I mean it's so great I was jumping out of my skin. That's the good news. The less good news is that they wouldn't play it for me unless I agreed not to write about it for "a few days." (Not even the label has heard it yet and they felt it would be impolite for me to go blabbing the whole story all over the world until after they get to play it for Reprise and the NY Times.) So what can I tell you before "a few days?" Not much. From the time Neil started writing the songs until he finished recording the whole incredible project: 9 days.

Every song is about... you know what (and who). Musically it is so powerful and emotionally it's even more powerful that that!! Many tears while I sat alone with the headset on. Since I already mentioned "Let's Impeach the President," I'll just say a few things about that. It's this great rocker that ends as a gospel song and reads like an indictment. I mean Neil sounds like he's been reading Daily KOS or FireLakeDog! Someone's gotta get this to Henry Waxman! Neil even lays out some evidence in the form of Bush running his mouth on tape.

Will this go down as Neil's greatest album ever? It will be a contender musically. And the impact lyrically could be profound. I'll talk more about that when my period of musical purdah is up next week. If you're walking down the street and someone comes up to you and offers you the opportunity to hear just one song, ask him to play "Flags of Freedom." (Have kleenex handy.)"

More new album news and reaction .

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New Neil Young Album: "Life in War"

Well, we've been sitting on this Neil news for some time now but it looks like the time has come since it's bustin' out all over blog-dale.

The title of Neil Young's newest album will be "Life in War" or possibly "Living With War".

As we reported last month on Neil's SXSW keynote address, Neil has been urged to deliver another "Ohio" -- a song which helped change public attitudes and marked an important turning point in the Vietnam War.

As Harp Magazine's Katherine Silkaitis reports, the album is complete and nearly ready for release. According to film director Jonathan Demme:

“It is a brilliant electric assault, accompanied by a 100-voice choir, on Bush and the war in Iraq…Truly mind blowing. Will be in stores soon.”

According to the blog Last Left Turn Before Hooterville by a member of the 100-voice choir, the album will contain the lyrics: "Let's impeach the President for lyin'!". The album will also feature a rap with President George Bush’s voice set to the choir chanting “flip/flop”. Alicia blogs:

"Every time new lyrics would come up on the screen, there were cheers, tears and applause. It was a spiritual experience ... We finished the session by singing an a cappella version of "America the Beautiful" and there was not a dry eye in the house."

"I've never been at a recording session that was more like being at church. Heck, I've never been to a church that was more like a church than that session."

In another blog by the former president of Reprise Records, Howie Klein's DownWithTyranny!: "The album, with Young on Old Black, Rick Rosas on bass and Chad Cromwell on drums, took three days to finish."

Could this be the predicted swerve to the ditch?

Needless to say, the rusties are in an uproar, with a serious meme that this all an elaborate hoax circulating. Politics and music sometimes do have a slight tendency to make some uncomfortable. But we've been through that a hundred times before ...

And this isn't the first time Neil has been ahead of the curve on impeachment or calling out for the truth (see album cover close-up).

A Warner Bros. Records spokesperson declined to comment on these reports. Why?

Thrasher's Wheat reports, you decide the truth.

For more, see:

MP3 News: Neil ready for War

LoperCo.: Protestin’ in the free world

haahnster's hallucinations: Neil Young Records LOUD Album Slamming Bush

Sensibly Eclectic: Neil Young to release new song: "Impeach the President"

JamBaseNEIL YOUNG: LIFE IN WAR

AfterDowningStreet.org: Neil Young has new song: "Impeach the President"

Blah3: Now I can forgive him for 'Let's Roll.'

Bad News Beat: Impeach the prez

Rising Hegemon: Rockin' in the Free World again

Impeachin' in the Free World

Here Comes The Flood: New Album Life In War

Editor and Publisher: Neil Young, Son of Famed Reporter, Records "Impeach the President" Song

Eschaton: That's Not Very Subtle with hundreds of comments flooding in like: "Damn Canadian Hippies!!" and "Rock's greatest living dilettante".

And it's already started to get very ugly.

Wonkette: Aging Hippie Dislikes President Bush:

"Neil, we hate to be the ones to remind you, but you’re Canadian. You guys dissolved your parliament or whatever it’s called like last week, isn’t there a grace period before you go around kicking out other people’s elected officers? Sure, “Pass of Motion of No Confidence, Necessitating a General Election That Will Hopefully Result In the Appointment of a New Prime Minister” isn’t as catchy a title, but if you’re releasing three-day albums now, you can’t be too picky.

And why bitch? Under the President’s new immigration plan, you’ll be allowed to stay in California for upwards of six years if you register as a guest worker!"

FRIDAY'S LETTERS: Lovin' and Loathin' Neil Young's Politics: "Neil Young should stick to entertaining pot-heads that can't think their way out of a bag, and forget about politics." - Thomas L. Shimek, Brigham City, Utah

Cole Slaw Blog: Neil Young's "Life in War":

"Mildly disappointed with Neil Young's syrupy fall release 'Prairie Wind,' this morning I'm happy (I'd write 'thrilled' or 'overjoyed,' but I'm trying to be more understated) to read that Neil will soon release a hard-rocking protest album called 'Life in War.'

After the sentimental treacle of "Prairie Wind," it's great to read that Neil has recorded "a brilliant electric assault" about Bush and the war. There's a risk that he'll overreach with this, but I hope not. When Neil connects, he hits them out of the park."

But it gets worse. Or maybe the irony overload has kicked in? On The Huffington Post, MinneapolisMike posts a real winner:

"Neil Young is obviously not on message. Even though a Canadian citizen, he can and must be considered a terrorist threat for giving such aid and comfort to our enemies.

Neil Young is obviously not on the side of Freedom. He obviously refuses to believe the Talking Points but rather the blatant lies put forth by the evil media. Those who do not question the President are on the side of Freedom. Those not on the side of Freedom must therefore be on the side of terror. Therefore, Neil Young should be considered a terrorist and put on a deck of cards to let those around the world know he is a public enemy."

On ilXor.com:

"this could cost the republicans votes, if back-to-nature organic hippie canadian libertarians voted." -- gypsy mothra

"I'm sure Celine Dion recording an anti-Bush album would have more of an impact."
-- James Mitchell

But for some fans, the major concern is that this will delay the release of The Archives Project. The horror.

More on Neil Young's new album and here.

UPDATE: 7:26 PM: Neil Young's official website now confirms the album's title as LIVING WITH WAR. Neil's letter appears as ticker at bottom of page. Neil calls it "Metal Folk Protest". Lyrics to "LIVING WITH WAR" are scrolled.

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More discussion on controversial "Living with War" and here and blogdale has exploded.

Also, Will Neil Young's "Living With War" be Rock's "Fahrenheit 9/11"?

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Video: Keep on rockin' in a free world? - Montreal, Canada

Video : Keep on rockin' in a free world ?

"There's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love,
never get to be cool."

Certainly, we hope these lyrics do not apply to the family above.

One of the coolest things is seeing other folks interpretations of Neil Young's music. Thrasher found this blog video from Le blog de Florent Poirier titled: "Keep on rockin' in a free world ?" to be just marvelous of his family's travelougue to Montreal, Canada.

And for all of the French Neil fans: Un clip réalisé lors de mon premier séjour à Montréal en Août 2004 sur la chanson de Neil Young "Rockin' In A Free World".

Thank you Flo! Very nice.

More Rockin' In The Free World moments around the world. Imagine...

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Beth Orton and Neil Young

A new blog called Leaky Sparrow has a nice piece "When Beth Orton quote Neil Young". Orton sings:

"So tell me what Neil Young said
You pick a flower then it’s dead"

Yes, love is a rose.

More on Beth Orton and Neil Young.

Thanks Philippe & good luck!

Got Neil?

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Is rock dead? Yes, if we don't get our facts straight

"Is rock dead?" posits Mark Hanson in the Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota) Teen Section: "From rock to punk to grunge, genre slowly fades into ruin".

Well, rock certainly might be dead if teenagers don't get their facts straight on rock history. Mark writes:

"Hey, hey. My, my. Rock 'n' roll will never die." This may have seemed true in 1969, when Neil Young sang it to thousands of strung-out fans at Woodstock in Bethel, N.Y.

Now, fast-forward to 2006, and you'll find modern rock in a state of utter ruin.

Since its birth in the early to mid-1900s, rock music has passed in and out of many different genres including rock 'n' roll, punk and grunge. As of today, all forms of rock, despite Neil Young's prophecy, are undeniably dead."

While Neil did perform at Woodstock, last we checked, "Hey, hey, My, my" was yet to be written.

Hey Mark, you need to go to Rock & Roll high school like Jake.

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Ronnie Van Zant and Neil Young: Rebels with a Cause?

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant wearing Neil Young "Tonight's The Night" T-shirt
Oakland Coliseum Stadium, July 2, 1977
Photographer: Michael Zagaris on Wolfgang's Vault

"And out in California, a rock star from Canada writes a couple of great songs about the bad shit that went down "Southern Man" and "Alabama" certainly told some truth But there were a lot of good folks down here and Neil Young wasn't around Now Ronnie and Neil became good friends their feud was just in song Skynyrd was a bunch of Neil Young fans and Neil he loved that song So He wrote "Powderfinger" for Skynyrd to record But Ronnie ended up singing "Sweet Home Alabama" to the lord"

The "feud myth" between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young has been fueled in recent years mainly due to the Drive-By Truckers' stunning 2001 album Southern Rock Opera song "Ronnie and Neil". This perceived rivalry between Ronnie Van Zant and Neil Young has a long and tortured history which we've covered for years now.

Last time we checked, most folks couldn't seem to make up their mind about whether Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young were friends or foes.

But since we stumbled across the super historic photo above (on Wolfgang's Vault) of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant wearing a Neil Young "Tonight's The Night" T-shirt at the Oakland Coliseum Stadium on July 2, 1977, folks now seem to agree that Ronnie and Neil were in fact buddies.

And just how do we discern these vital trends? Mostly from our rigorously analytical and exclusive Shakey Electoral Polling System.


Lynyrd Skynyrd in Muscle Shoals, Alabama

So why do I keep mashin' up? Mainly because a southern man does need him around anyhow. And Watergate did bother him very much. And he never loved the Governor, either.

As for the politics of it all?


"Oh Alabama
Your cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track"

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Add your comment below, along with other recent letters to the editor.

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Randomly Blogged: RITFW video, Kathleen Edwards, Cortez the Killer

From VideoCodeZone.com, "Rockin' In The Free World" video by Neil Young.

More on War is Hell and Politics is Hell.

More Neil Young videos on VideoCodeZone.com.

you can't have a cupboard if there ain't no wall on Live Journal ozy_y2k posts on Heart of Gold film: "The overall effect is of a genial, relaxed gathering; not a PARTY, exactly, just a bunch of longtime buddies sitting around the campfire and throwing back a few beers and knocking out a few old chestnuts and new ballads."

"Hello Cowgirl in the Stands" - Editor and Publisher by Greg Mitchell : Neil Young and Dad - Writin' in the Free World



"Cortez the Killer" by Neil Young - tribe.net

"Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones."

(Painting of CHALCHIHUITLICUE, Aztec Goddess of Rain and the Flowing Water. Unfortunately, Cortez took care of her.)

Kathleen Edwards on comparisons of her to Neil, Calgary Herald, Aug '03:

"Oh, absolutely. I read a review of my record and someone said, "She sounds like Lucinda Williams fronting Crazy Horse." I thought, wow, I never really thought that Neil Young was a big influence, but I guess in some way he's a subconscious one. It's a huge compliment. Not only is he a great musician and artist, but I have a lot of respect for the way he leads his life and takes a stand on things that are personally important to him."

via Bad News Beat


Wolgang's Vault: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Ambulance Blues" - 09/08/1974 Roosevelt Raceway

Crosby, Gils & Nash: Pink Floyd's David Gilmour at Radio City Music Hall, New York City



Video: Cowboy Junkies Cover Neil Young's "Tired Eyes"

Bruce Springsteen video of "John Henry" from upcoming We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions

DOWNLOAD:
MP3:Pixies: "Winterlong" by Neil Young More MP3 Neil covers from the 1989 Bridge Tribute album (via An Aquarium Drunkard).

More random blogs from the land of wheatfields and blog-dale.

Thanks for the links Pete, e2f & HwyCDRrew & everyone else!

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The Neil Young Discography: Help Wanted

My buddy Jef over at Side Street Records has been working intensively for several years on the definitive Neil Young Discography.

In Shakey - A Neil Young Biography author Jimmy McDonough called Side Street Records website "detailed to the sub-atomic". Wait until you see this, Jimmy!

As Jef nears completion, he is looking for some help in locating some rare cover images. So if you can help out, that would be great! Here's what Jef is looking for:

NEIL YOUNG

Harvest (Reprise R113998) RCA Record Club LP in single-pocket cover

Harvest (Reprise 2277-2) 1983 CD manufactured in Japan for U.S. market  [red "target" design printed on the disc]

Everybody's Rockin' (Geffen 4013-2) 1983 CD manufactured in Japan for U.S. market  ["target" design printed on the disc]

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD

Last Time Around (Atco SD33-256) 1969 pressing LP with "ATCO", "RECORDS" and "STEREO" printed in BLACK (instead of tan/white)

DANNY AND THE MEMORIES

Can't Help Loving That Girl Of Mine (Valiant 6049)1965 red label second pressing 45 (not Valiant 705)

THE PSYRCLE

Baby, Don't Do That (Lorna unknown number) ANY info about this 45 needed: release date, record Nº, "B" side, --ANYTHING!!


Please eMail your record/cd list before sending any images

& be sure to visit The Neil Young Discography at

www.sidestreetrecords.com

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